Milk-can.



ELIZ ABETH COOH RANE SEA lVllLK Prion.

` ATENT MAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,150, dated April 2, 1901.

Application tiled June 28, 1900.

To all MYI/011i, t r11/wy concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH COCHRANE SEAMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city ofNeW York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Gans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to milk-cans, one object of the invention being to provide a milk-can with an improved reinforced or double neck.

A further object of the invention is to provide an integral breast, neck, and bowl or mouth of a milk-can with a reinforcing neckband, whereby the neck of such can is reinforced and the can protected and rendered more durable.

In the drawings accompanying and formingpart of this specification, Figure lisa vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a milk-can, showing one form of this improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the can shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the upper portion of a milk-can, showing another form of this improvement. Fig. Ltis an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the can shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a milk-can, showing another form of this improvement. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the can shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7` is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion bf a milk-` can, showing an integral breast, neck, and bowl, to the neck of which this improved reinforcing-bandis applied. Fig. Sis aperspective View of one form of reinforcing neckband; and Fig. 9 is a sectional View of that form of neck-band shownin Figs..3,4, 5, and 6.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

It is not only desirable but it is necessary that milk-cans, in orderto render them durable and prolong the life thereof to a reasonable extent, shall have their necks protected from injury and reinforced in such a manner that in handling the bending ofthe necks or the crushing of the bowls upon the breasts and the consequent distortion of such necks Serial No. 21,887. (No model.)

bent, twisted, or distorted, not only is it impossible to secu re a tight tit of the cover within the mouth of the can, resulting in the overfiowing and leakage.. of the contents, while also permitting the penetration of dust and particles of dirt through the imperfect joint between the cover and the can-neck, thereby affecting the purity of the milk, but the keeping of the can in a proper cleansed condition is interfered with and rendered extremely difficult. Consequently it is necessary that t-he can be sent to the factory to be repaired, which, however, is not always possible, in which event the life of the can is ended, although it may otherwise be in good condition. Furthermore, it is desirable and a material advantage that the bowl or mouth, neck, and breast be formed integral or in one piece, and therefore seamless, since a better and stronger article, as Well as one which is more less cost than when formed of a number of pieces; but to do this it is necessary, in order to provide a practicable and commerciallysuccessful article, to,\- in some practicable and inexpensive manner, reinforce the neck, which isa point of great weakness, not only owing to the flexure of the metal at thejuncture-points ofthe bowl and breast with the neck, but also owing to the fact that considerablestrain must necessarily come upon the neck in the handling of the can, this neck being, when integral with the breast and bowl, merely a straight piece of metal of a single thickness. The bowl and breast are of arched formation, thus increasing their resisting qualities; but the neck is straight to permit the proper fitting of the cover, and it having been drawn out from a disk is conse- 'quently somewhat elastic, so that it is easily twisted out of shape, such elasticity also permitting the metal of the neck to spring, and thus permit the can-covers to jar out.

I am aware that it is not new to make a bowl, neck, and breast and a portion of the body of a milk-can of one integral structure; but in the structure to which I refer the defects and disadvantages just pointed out are present, since the neck is not reinforced, so that when the can is used the neck quickly becomes bent or twisted out of shape and the will be prevented. When the neck of a can is bowl jammed or crushed at one side upon the readily cleansed,rcan be produced at much IOO breast. In the present instance the bowl or mouth, neck, and breast only are formed as an integral structure, which is, as above stated, a desirable feature, provided the neck is reinforced.

Various ways havebcen devised to provide a reinforced neck and to which I will briefly refer, so far as I am aware of the same, in order that a clear understanding may be had of the present improvement. In the first place, and so far as I am aware, a milk-can comprising an integral mouth or bowl, neck, and breast or an integral bowl or month, neck, breast, and a portion or all of the body has never been reinforced prior to my invention in any practicable manner or by the provision of a reinforcing-band applied either during the formation of such bowl, neck, and breast or after the same is formed, since so far as the market has ever shown the provision of an integral bowl, neck, and breast combined -with a band forming'a double neck has not heretofore been deemed a practicable possi` bility. On the contrary, in order to reinforce the neck it has been deemed necessary heretofore to form the bowl and breast separat-e from each other and furnish each with a neck portion, one overlapping the other and soldered together, thereby providing a double neck, one part, however,.formed as a part of the bowl and the other as a part of the breast and depending for their durable connection upon a thin layer of soldering or tinning material; but in all such constructions in order to securea double neck it is necessary to form the bowl and the breast as separate members, so that the advantages of providing an integral bowl, neck, and breast are not obtained. In another' construction of which I am aware the bowl and breast have been formed as separate members connected by a pair of independent neck-pieces, one on the interior and the other on the exterior; butin this construction also the advantages obtained by forming the breast, neck, and bowl-as an integral structure must be dispensed with. In still another structure with which I am familiar the neck is bent to form screw-threads for throughout its entire area the neck of the can, so that it would not be materially eective in reinforcing such neck. The iieXure of the metal of the neckin order to provide the threads also increases the tendency of the neck to be crushed or bent out of shape, since the fibers of the metal have already been bent and strained to provide the threads, and as this eXtra strip when used merely engages the projecting surface of the threads, and therefore does not engage the necksurface throughout the entire area of the strip, it is consequently held away from portions of the neck, thus interfering with its effectiveness.

In the present improvement the reinforcing-band 2, which can be applied either during the formation of the upper portion of the can, which may be formed by drawing and spinning or otherwise, or applied after the upper portion of the can is otherwise formed, which latter is preferable, since it is more practicable, engages the neck 3, which is shown having a smooth surface throughout the entire area of the band and preferably throughout the entire area of the neck, whereby it has a close engagement at all points with such neck, thus bringing its edges in the preferred form in position at the points of flexure of the breast and bowl, so as to receive. any strain or force applied through the bowl or mouth to the neck, whereby it acts not only to stiffeu and reinforce such neck, but also as a brace or support for the bowl. When the band is applied before the bowl is spun out, it may be of an integral structure, if desired. As a matter of fact, however, th-e threaded neck of the patented structure above referred to is not an integral structure or integral with with the bowl and breast, since I state that my milk-can is of the ordinary or any suitable construction, and the ordinary construction at the date of the patent was not an integral neck, bowl, and breast. In fact, until some years later the provision of an iniegral bowl, breast, and neck, which, however, had a portion of the body also integral with such breast, was not believed possible. Moreover, I state that the threads are formed by stamping the strip from which the walls of the neck are formed previous to soldering it into cylindrical shape, so that not onlyare the edges of the neck soldered together, but the neck is evidently also soldered or otherwise joined to the bowl and breast after such edges are secured together, since this was the ordinary mode of construction at the time such improvement was made. In the form thereof herein shown and described the bowl 4, neck 3, and breast 5 are formed as an integral structure, the breast being offset adjacent to its lower edge, as at 6, to provide for the reception of the upper portion of the can-body 7. It is obvious that a reverse of this structure could be provided, if desired, so that the bowl could be inserted into the body. The bowl may be of any suitable construction. For instance, it may have greater or less'curvature than that shown or curved in a different direction to provide a suitable mouth at the upper end of the neck, any such formation being within the scope of the claims. In practice the breast, neck, and bowl are formed from a disk, such disk being subjected to suitable drawing or stamping operations to form the breast with a straight portion projecting therefrom, the top of which is cut off, after which such straight portion is subjected to a suitable spinning operation to for'm the neck and bowl. After the breast, bowl, and neck have been formed the reinforcing neck-band 2 is applied either to the IOO IIO

ISO

interior or exterior, as found desirable1 the ends of which band may be overlapped and soldered or otherwise secured in position. As shown, each end of the band is bent upon itself to provide a hook l2 in engagement with each other, whereby the tight drawing of the band around the neck is permitted and whereby also the band is maintained in its proper position. In the form shown in Figs. l and 2 this band 2 is located exteriorly of the neck and in close engagement throughout its entire area with such neck, whereby its upper and lower edges are in position at the points of eXure of the bowl and breast. Thus this band not only reinforces and stiffens the neck to prevent the bending and twisting thereof, but also reinforces the structn re at one of its weakest pointsf-namely, Where the metal is bent at' the edges of the neck. It also acts as a brace to support the bowl and prevent the Acollapse thereof, as well as enables the neck to resist the strain usually transmitted from the bowl to the neck. In practice the edges 8 of the band may be 1 slightly beveled, whereby it will more tightly lit around the neck intermediate the bowl and breast and closely engage such neck and also the bowl and breast. In another form thereof (shown in Figs. 3 and 4c) this band 2 is ianged or bent at its upper and lower edges, although one edge only could be bent, while the other could be formed as shown, for instance, in Fig. l, if found desirable, such flanges 9 preferably conforming to the shape of the bowl and breast, whereby they con stt ute beveled surfaces and insure a close engagement of all parts of the band with the neck, bowl, and breast. By this anged construction of the band not only is the intermediate portion of such band itself reinforced, since it is obvious that a circular band provided with bent edges has greater resisting qualities than a mere straight band, but such flaring or bent edges 9 also reinforce the bowl and breast by not only providing a double thickness of metal 10 at one side of the points of iiexure of such bowl and breast, but also hy extending the points of engagement of the band with the bowl and breast. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 this improved neck-band 2 is also provided with flanged or bent edges; but the band is, however, located on the interior of the neck. The band may, if desired, have its anged edges scarfed or beveled, so that they will merge into the surface of the bowl and breast and more closely conform to the shape thereof. This may also be -the case with the band shown in Figs. 3 and 4. After the neck-band is placed in position with its ends in locked engagement. it is more firmly secured by soldering or tinning material. By the above construction an improved double neck is provided having all the advantages and benefits of such a structure, while at the same time the bowl, neck, and breast can be formed as an integral structure, thus securing all the or other matter will lind lodg'ment.

advantages of this formation. rThis reinforcing-band could also be used in practice with those constructions of milk-canswhere the bowl and breast are connected together by slip or ol herwise-formcd joints; but by its provision it will permit the manufacture of an integral bowl, breast, and neck which heretofore has notI been practicable or a commercial success owing to the weakness' of the structure at the neck thereof.

When the band is located on the exterior of the neck, which is the preferable construction, the breast, neck, and howl of The can on the interior thereof may have a smooth and seamless surface, so that there is no crevice into which impure or foul particles of milk Consequently the contents of such can will not be affected, it being well known that a drop of foul milk will render impure many gallons during even a short railroad journey. By forming the can seamless on its interior the thorough cleansing of the same is also obtained. By the provision of a suitable reinforcing device located on the neck the twisting of the neck and the springing of the metal thereof is prevented, so that the covers will not work loose.

I claim as my inventionl. A milk-can having an integral breast, neck, and bowl or mouth whereby the interior of such structure is without lapping or other seam and therefore can be `readily cleansed, and a reinforcing neck-band drawn tightly around and in engagement with the neck of said integral structure throughout the entire area of said band and also throughout the entire area of said neck and having portions thereof in engagement with the bowl and breast adjacent to the points of lieXure of said bowl and breast with the neck.

2. A milk-can having a breast, neck, and bowl or mouth of an integral structure whereby the interior of such structure is without lapping or other seam and therefore can be readily cleansed,and a reinforcing neck-band locatedaround and in engagement with the neck of such integrallyjoined structure throughout the entire area of said band and having beveled portions in engagement with the bowl and breast adjacent to the points of iieXure of said bowl and breast with the neck.

3. A milk-can having a double neck comprising a neck member integral with the breast and mouth or bowl whereby a seamless innersurface is provided, and a reinforcing neck-band in engagement with said neck member throughout such part thereof and of such width as to prevent the twisting or springing of such neck.

4. A milk-can having an integral breast, neck, and bowl or month whereby the interior of such structure is without lapping or other seam and can therefore be readily cleansed, and a rein forcing neck-band located around and in engagement with the neck of such integrally-joined structure and having IOO IIC

portions in engagement with the breast adjacent to the points of iiexure of said bowl and breast with the neck and also having its ends interlocked or hooked into each other.

5. A milk-can having an integral breast, neck, and bowl or month whereby a seamless inner surface is provided so that such part of the can can be readily cleansed, and a reinforcingneck-band located around said neck throughout substantially the ent-ire area of said neck and having its ends interlocked.

6. A milk-.can having a breast, neck, and bowl or mouth of an integral or rigid structure, and a reinforcing neck-band forming with said integral or rigid neck a double neck and provided with a bent or flanged portion in engagement' with the bowl or breast.

7. A milk-can having a double neck comprisinga neck nn ember integral with the breast and mouth or bowl whereby it has a smooth inlerior surface and whereby the bowl, breast, and neck are without lapping or other seam to interfere with the cleansing thereof, and a reinforcing neck-band in engagement with said neck member and having a pair of bent or flanged portions.

8. A milk-can having a breast, neck, and bowl or mouth of an integral or rigid structure, and a reinforcing neck-band extending around said integral neck and forming therewith a double neck and provided with a pair of outwardly-turned portions or anges in eugagement with the breast and bowl.

9. A milk-can having an integral breast, neck, and bowl or mouth whereby a seamless inner surface is provided so that such part of the can can be readily cleansed, and a reinforcing neck-band located around said neck throughout substantially the entire area thereof.

ELIZABETH-COCHRANE SEAMAN. Vitnesses:

I GEORGE E. BAKER,

E. R. GILMAN. 

